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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam
The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.
Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.
Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!
Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.
Click here to report a problem with this page.
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "consignment " (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "fund beneficiary" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
- "you are advice to " (this email uses bad English)
- "the diplomat " ("diplomats" who perform deliveries of cash or other valuables to you only exist in 419 scams)
- "high court" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "federal high court" (This court is often mentioned in '419' scams to give the victim a reason why he/she should send thousands of dollars to the scammers. A 'Federal High Court' exists in Germany and Nigeria, but not in other countries, such as the UK, Spain, Netherlands, Senegal, Benin, South Africa or other countries where fake lawyers in scams often claim to be based. )
- "courier company" (Courier companies mentioned in 419 scams are always fake. They will have you send money to them, but won't deliver anything. )
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Leonard Hycient <leonardhycient231@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 21 Nov 2021 22:53:32 +0100
Subject: ATTENTION!! ATTENTION!! ATTENTION!!!
Attention Dear Fund Beneficiary.
we have finally succeeded in getting your package worth $50 million
out of delivery your consignment box with help of Dr David Don
Attornay General of federal High Court Justice Angola which act as
your foreign Attorny representative here in Angola'
so every necessary arrangment has been made successfully with FEDEX
COURIER COMPANY on which Agent Mr KING MELCON is in charge of delivery
your package and every document guiding your delivery is well updated
excpet passage clearance and custom yellow tag which you will secure
upon his arrival in your country for the customs clearance and it will
cost you $300 and you most pay for it before the delivery will be
commence and remember we don't deliver without the requested paperwork
which means NO CO. so you are advice to re-comfirm your full delivery
information to the international Airport washington DC-USA with your
box as he called me this morning to inform me that he has been tying
to reach you since few days of his arrival in your country because he
his having a problem with the customs.
so you are adivce to recomfimed your full information to the diplomat
to have easy conversation with him and to enable you give him full
direction to get your package delivered to you and hand you over your
package safe and sound, plus your advice to be every fast as the Agent
Mr King Melcon has no time to waste do to his flight ticket. so the
information your are requested to recomfirm to the Agent is this
following,
FULL NAME....
PHONE NUMBER....
HOME ADDRESS....
COUNTY......
CITY....
NEAREST AIRPORT.
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